Contents

Design and development

CM-32 APC ver.

The project was launched in 2002, at a cost of NT$700 million (US$21.9 million) per unit.[3]

Mass production started in 2007, with an initial order for 600 units. It is estimated that up to 1,400 CM-32s may end up being in operational service.[4] The armor of the CM-32 provides protection of 7.62 mm AP rounds, while the frontal arc withstands 12.7 mm AP rounds. NBC protection and fire suppression systems are also standard. The V-shaped hull provides protection from landmines and can withstand 12 kg of TNT under any wheel.

The CM-32 is armed with a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher and a 7.62 mm co-axial machinegun, both mounted in a remote weapons station, in its basic APC form. An infantry fighting vehicle variant with a two-man turret is also slated for mass-production in the near future; the turret main armament was originally planned to be a 20 mm T75 revolver cannon combined with improved armor-piercing ammunition acquired alongside the Phalanx Block 1B weapon systems ordered by the Republic of China Navy, but ultimately the 30 mm Bushmaster II chaingun was chosen instead.

In addition to the infantry carriers, other planned variants include command vehicle, NBC reconnaissance vehicle, mortar carrier (can be configured with either a 81 mm or 120 mm mortar), and assault gun (armed with a 105 mm rifled gun).